Question

Elena's caregiver is attempting to get two-year-old Elena to pick up the toys she is playing with and get ready to go home. What would be the best way to communicate this to Elena?

1) Say, 'Elena, your mother is coming to pick you up soon and she has probably had a hard day so let's pick up the toys and get ready to go home.'
2) Say, 'Elena, please pick up the toys and get ready to go home.'
3) Say, 'Elena, please pick up the toys.' Then after she does, 'Let's put on our coat.'
4) Pick up the toys for Elena and then put her coat on yourself while humming a song.

Answer 1

To effectively communicate with a two-year-old like Elena, it's best to give her one simple and clear task at a time, such as asking her to 'please pick up the toys' and then 'let's put on our coat' once the first task is complete.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most effective way to communicate with a two-year-old child like Elena about picking up toys and getting ready to go home would be option 3: Say, 'Elena, please pick up the toys.' Then after she has done so, follow up with 'Let's put on our coat.' This approach is recommended as it breaks down the tasks into manageable steps, is clear, direct, and provides a sequence of actions for the child to follow. As two-year-olds can understand simple verbal commands and are capable of helping to dress and undress themselves, this method supports autonomy and learning in children while also managing their ability to focus on one instruction at a time.